Chapter 690

In the dead of night, around three or four in the morning, Moonstone Court was silent. All the lights were out except for a few dim lamps glowing faintly in the garden.
A figure dressed head to toe in black slipped into the courtyard. The assassin picked the lock of Caitlin’s room with practiced case, moving like a shadow.
Inside, the faint outline of two bodies rose beneath the blankets. He raised his silenced pistol and fired several rounds straight into the lumps on the bed.
Without hesitation, he splashed gasoline across the bed and furniture, then flicked a lighter. Flames leapt greedily over the sheets. Satisfied, he slipped back into the night as if he’d never been there at all.
“Fire! Fire!”
The night watch spotted the blaze and shouted. Servants spilled out, buckets and basins in hand, rushing to fight the flames.
Moonstone Court was a connected building. Once one room caught, fire spread quickly from one to the next. The inferno roared higher, devouring everything.
Within minutes, the entire Jonathan household was awake. Servants and family members alike scrambled to help while someone called the fire brigade.
In his chambers, Hector stirred at the noise. “What’s all that shouting? What’s happening?”
Nicoletta rose, slipping on a robe. “I’ll go see.”
Stepping outside, she saw the blaze consuming Moonstone Court. A thrill of triumph surged in her chest. At last. Her hired killer had done the job. With fire to erase every trace, who could challenge her now?
She hurried toward the scene, masking her satisfaction with a look of alarm. “How could this happen? Quickly, everyone, more water!”
Forty minutes later, the fire trucks arrived, but the narrow paths meant they couldn’t drive close. Firefighters dragged long hoses and fought the blaze directly.
The battle lasted two, nearly three hours before the last flames died. By then, dawn had broken.
Much of Moonstone Court was destroyed, parts of it collapsed into rubble. Firefighters combed the ruins for survivors.
Hector, supported by attendants, came to see for himself. “They lived here. Did you find Caitlin?”
The firefighters shook their heads. No bodies, no remains.
“Burned to nothing?” Carson muttered, his face pale.
“Or buried under the rubble,” another guessed.

“ Yes, wasn’t Caitlin’s room in one of the collapsed sections?”
“Start digging!” voices clamored.
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Nicoletta stepped forward, wringing her hands with feigned worry. “Several people were inside! Please, look harder!”
Rescue efforts stretched for another two hours. They overturned beams, sifted through ash and stone–but found nothing.
“Not even bones?” Hector asked grimly.
Nicoletta answered smoothly, “The fire was too fierce. It must have consumed everything.”
Hector sighed heavily. “Caitlin came to our family, and now this… how can I face her kin?” He had counted on her to find what he sought. Now she was gone.
Nicoletta guided him back. “Let’s discuss inside.”
Soon the firefighters packed up and left, leaving Devin in charge of cleaning up the ruins.
In the main hall, the family gathered, buzzing with talk of the fire.
Liliana could barely contain her delight. If Caitlin was gone, so were her troubles. Nicoletta, too, was inwardly smug. No more threats, no more leverage against her.
But then-
At the doors of the great hall, Caitlin appeared. Beside her stood Fallon, Zinnia, and Tyler, all alive and whole.
A scream split the room. Blythe stumbled back, pale as chalk. “Ghosts! Ghosts!”
“What ghosts?” someone snapped, then turned. Every eye widened in shock.
“Caitlin!” Carson blurted, leaping to his feet. “You’re alive?”
Liliana’s smile froze solid. “Impossible…”
Nicoletta stared, dumbstruck. How? The assassin had sworn the job was done.
Caitlin strode in, her voice sharp. “Sorry to disappoint. Hector’s still alive–how could I die before him?”
Relief washed over Hector. “Thank heaven you’re safe. What a fright…”
Nicoletta forced a smile. “But weren’t you in Moonstone Court?”
Caitlin’s lips curved faintly. “I was.”
“Then how… how are you unharmed?”
Caitlin’s gaze locked onto her, cold and cutting. “According to your calculations, I was supposed to be trapped
10:26 Thu, Oct 9 M
Chapter 690
in Moonstone Court, burning alive. Is that it?”
“I didn’t mean-” Nicoletta stammered.
“Then what did you mean?” Caitlin pressed.
Nicoletta’s tongue knotted. Rage churned in her chest. This girl–what a cursed, stubborn life she had
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Caitlin’s tone softened just enough to address the room. “Still, I thank those who fought the fire. Your efforts. won’t be forgotten.” Then her eyes sharpened again. “Nicoletta, don’t forget our agreement. Today I want the second half of Yun’s Aromatic Codex. And I want to see Ignatius. Both. No excuses.”
She sat with Fallon at her side, calm and resolute.
Nicoletta held her gaze, then dropped her eyes. She couldn’t dodge any longer.
“Very well. You wish to see my brother? I’ll call him.” She lifted her phone, made a show of dialing, then smiled sweetly. “As it happens, he was already on his way. You’ll meet him soon.”
Not long after, a man in his sixties entered. Nicoletta rose to greet him warmly. “Brother, you’re back!”
“I heard someone wanted to see me. Who was it?”
“This young woman, Caitlin.” Nicoletta led him forward. “Caitlin, this is my elder brother, Ignatius. Ask him whatever you wish.”
The man offered a polite nod. Nicoletta had already warned her household to keep up the act.
Caitlin looked him over, then smiled faintly. She turned her head toward Fallon.
“Fallon, you’ve met Ignatius before. Tell me–does this man look like him to you?”
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